Why Spay or Neuter your Pet?
It is Good for You!
Spaying/Neutering Your Pet Is Good For You! Did you know that spaying or neutering your pet may stop unwanted behavior?
- Sadly, some owners feel that they have no option but to surrender their pets to shelters because they simply cannot handle some unwanted behaviors. Yet spaying or neutering your pet can reduce or eliminate these behaviors, making both you and your pet happier.
- Your spayed female dog or cat will no longer go through heat cycles.
- Female dogs in heat may be more likely to show aggression to other females.
- Female cats in heat will typically “yowl” and urinate frequently.
- Neutering your male pet will reduce the breeding instinct and the behavior that goes along with it – spraying or marking territory with urine, aggressive behavior, and the drive to escape from your home and roam.
It is Good for the Community!
Did you know that millions of cats and dogs are euthanized each year in shelters?
- Shelters across the country are forced to euthanize many adoptable dogs, cats, and other companion animals each year. Many of these animals were the result of unwanted and unplanned litters, or dogs or cats that seemed “cute” as puppies and kittens but were no longer wanted as they grew into adults. Many of these are even purebred animals.
- By spaying or neutering your pet, you are doing your part to bring an end to the pet overpopulation problem. Your pet will not have unplanned puppies or kittens that end up in a shelter or on the streets – and that means that the animals already waiting for homes will have that much more of a chance to find one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cats and dogs must be at least 12 weeks and 3 pounds to be fixed. Because pets can get pregnant much sooner than most people think — kittens as early as four months and puppies as early as six months — over half of the more than 70,000 puppies and kittens born every day are the result of accidental litters. This is mostly due to the confusion over when to spay and neuter.
We perform surgeries by appointment only, 4 days a week at this time
Yes. We do surgery by appointment only. Please book your appointment online here.
Additional questions may be answered by emailing info@poaspay.org or calling our office at 860-206-7922.
Pre-surgical blood work is always a good idea for animals under-going anesthesia. Our veterinarian recommends pre-surgical blood work for all adult cats and dogs (6 years and old) prior to surgery.
We require pre-surgical blood work for dogs and cats 8 years and older.
There is a higher risk if an animal is in heat or pregnant, especially dogs.
We will spay cats in heat, however dogs will be scheduled for 6 weeks after their last day of active bleeding.
Additional fees may apply for pregnant or in heat cats and dogs.
The spay/neuter recovery period is 7 to 10 days. We will give you complete instructions on how to care for your pet upon pick up.
You can also visit After Surgery for Dogs or After Surgery for Cats for more information.
We currently only provide vaccines at the time of spay/neuter.
Here are some local Vaccine Clinic Options*:
- Petco (Vetco)
- Tractor Supply (PetVet)
- Pet Valu/Pet Supplies Plus (VIP Pet Care)
- Connecticut Humane Society
*Please visit their websites or call them directly for any questions
Because we are a high-volume, low-cost clinic, we must adhere to those times and are very strict about ensuring they are followed. If you cannot make those times, perhaps a friend or family member can help you with drop off and pick up of your pet.
Please visit SPAYCT.ORG's website for other low cost options in and around Connecticut, if our policy doesn't work for you.
Your pet will be in the care of our highly trained staff during their surgery. We cannot allow pet owners to stay while the surgery is being done, but there are many stores, restaurants and libraries in the area.
Please visit the following links services offered:
No, the price of surgery remains the same regardless of a pet being current on vaccines.
The state of Connecticut requires a current rabies vaccination for cats and dogs over the age of 12 weeks. If Rabies is not needed the day of surgery please bring the Certificate of Rabies* with you the day of surgery. It is the only proof we will accept.
*A Rabies Tag is not accepted as proof as it does not show when the vaccine expires.
Yes, all pets will receive a small, green tattoo near the incision site after surgery is performed.
This tattoo is not another incision—it’s just a small score in the top layers of the skin filled with tattoo ink and covered with surgical glue.
The tattoo will ensure that anyone examining your animal will know they have been sterilized.
If your pet is having an emergency, please seek medication attention immediately. Emergency Clinics are listed on the back of your pink Post-Op Instructions page if your full service vet is unavailable.
If it is not an emergency and your pet recently had surgery with us please give us a call: 860-206-7922. We can help you determine what steps to take.
POA SPAY believes that all animals should receive the highest quality veterinary care possible, even if the services performed are at a reduced cost. We do not cut corners or quality. All spay/neuter surgeries are performed by our licensed veterinarians (DVMs) and all animals entrusted to POA SPAY are attended to before and after surgery by trained veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants.
A Tame or Friendly cat is typically what most house cats are. If you're helping a wild or unsocialized cat they would be considered Feral and would need to come to us in a humane trap. Trap-Neuter-Return is the humane way to improve a their lives and prevent overpopulation. All Feral Cats receive an ear tip after surgery is performed.*
*Ear-tipping is a widely accepted means of marking a feral cat who has been sterilized. It also often identifies them as being part of a cared colony. Ear-tipping is the humane surgical removal of 1/4 tip of the left ear. It distinguishes between feral cats who have already been sterilized and those who still need to be sterilized.